National News

Girl's appeal over missing mother

The teenage daughter of a nurse who is feared dead has appealed for information to her mother's whereabouts.

Rui Li was last seen alive by her 18-year-old daughter at her home in Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset a week ago and was reported missing four days later.

Dorset detectives believe the 44-year-old nurse may have come to harm and have launched a murder inquiry.

They have arrested two Bournemouth men, aged 60 and 26, on suspicion of murder and they remain in custody. They are both known to Ms Li.

Her daughter Lu Yao urged her mother to get in touch, even if she "just wanted to get away", and appealed to the public to come forward with any sightings.

"I haven't seen my mum since Friday night when she came home," Miss Yao said in a statement released by police.

"The last time I saw mum she looked happy and was smiling - talking about my studies.

"My mum is a very conscientious and caring nurse and never lets anyone down. She is a very loving mum, supporting me with my studies from when I came to the UK from China.

"She prides herself on her time keeping and my mum has never gone missing before. This is completely out of character and I am very worried. I really miss her and I just want her home.

"Mum, if you're safe and just want to get away please just let us know you are ok. If anyone knows where my mum is please tell the police."

Extensive investigations are ongoing, with forensic experts examining Ms Li's home address in Burnham Drive, as well as properties in Wolverton Road and Spring Road, a flat in Sea Road and Cromer Motors in St Clement's Road, all in Boscombe, and Mean Road, Southbourne.

Ms Li's distinctive Porsche Boxster, with personalised number plate L1 RUI, was found outside a property in Wolverton Road. Several vehicles have also been seized.

Police had earlier released CCTV of Ms Li leaving the car park at Poole Hospital, where she worked, at 6.17pm last Friday.

Detectives said she moved to the UK from China a decade ago and has worked at the hospital since 2009.

They said Ms Li lived "quite a private personal life" and officers were trying to build a picture of her lifestyle.

Detective Superintendent Kevin Connolly, who is leading the inquiry, said: "We would like to speak to anyone who knows Rui Li and has any information about her whereabouts or has in fact seen her since she left work at Poole Hospital on Friday evening.

"We would like to speak to anyone who lives in the area of the premises mentioned and has seen anything suspicious, particularly in the early hours of Saturday morning.

"In addition we would like to speak to anyone who has any information about any vehicles linked to these premises, in particularly a Ford Connect HD53 FCG, which we believe travelled to Watford on the morning of Saturday May 24 returning later that evening.

"Finally to anybody in these areas who may have seen any unattended vehicle parked outside their homes or business premises over recent days.

"It is still absolutely crucial for the investigation to establish what has happened to Rui Li between Friday evening and Tuesday morning."

Mr Connolly said the brief conservation between Ms Li and her daughter at about 10.30pm on May 23 was the last know sighting of her.

"We don't know what her intentions were thereafter or any activity she has undertaken since that last contact," he said.

"Since that moment we have not heard from her, nobody has spoken to her, she's not telephoned anybody, she has not had any contact with work colleagues - she's basically disappeared completely.